Coin-controlled machine.



PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906 R. WALES. COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.18 1904.

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PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

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00m CONTROLLED MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED 0011s, 1904.

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PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

Nb; 830,546??? R. WALES.

00m CONTROLLED MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.18, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed October l8 1904. Serial No. 228,983.

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT WALES, engineer, of 5 Commercial Chambers, 24 Manse street, Dunedin, New Zealand, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to coin-controlled machines, and in particular to a coin-controlled flanking-machine.

A leading feature of this invention is a roller or pin riding a coin held by a curved finger of peculiar formation after the insertion of the coin into place through a slot, so that the roller or pin in its motion actuates desired mechanism.

Another feature is a peculiarly-shaped sheath pivoted to mechanism at one end with the riding roller or pin at the other end of the sheath opposite said pivot, said sheath being adapted to embrace the coin, and also the curved finger, as hereinafter more particularly described.

These features are applied to a frankingmachine in which the cock arrangements of the ordinary rebounding gun-lock are employed, all as hereinafter described.

The mechanism for franking is constructed so that the stamp can only mark the mailmatter after a coin has been inserted through a slot into place and discharged into a receptacle by a push or pull of a handle or knob on a lever with suitable intermediate mechanism and so that more than one impression cannot be obtained with one coin by a gentle incomplete pushing or pulling and sudden release of the handle. This object is effected by mechanism some of which is similar to the mechanism of a rebounding lockthat is to say, when the coin is inserted a push-bar must be pushed home, so as to discharge the coin, whereupon a lever carrying a stamp is released, giving the desired impression on the mail-matter, the stamp-lever immediately returning to its normal position of halfcock. If the push-bar is not pushed home, the stamp-lever will not reach the full-cock position, and on releasing the push-bar or allowing it to return it will only descend to half-cock and no impression can be obtained.

Another feature is the application of a roller-inking mechanism to automatically ink the stamp or die; and a further feature is a bag to contain the coins, which is automatically unlocked on being placed in position and rebounding and half automatically locked on being withdrawn from that position.

Another feature is a crescent-shaped knife adapted to move underneath the coin-slot and close same against the insertion of a smaller coin and to cut any means of suspending a smaller coin.

The invention consists of these features and of the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the chute with one wall of the sheath and bag attachment removed and part of the hood broken away to show stamp and inking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the dotted line marked A B, Fig. 1.

Mounted pivotally on a frame 1 is a lever' 2, provided with a head 3, carrying a detachable stamp 4, situated over an orifice 5 in a receptacle 6, adapted to receive an envelop or the like. The stamp 4 and lever 2 are held,

by means of a V-spring 7, secured to the plate 1 and supporting the lever 2 by the bracket 13, normally raised above the orifice 5 and within the receptacle 6 sufiiciently to prevent any impression being taken from the stamp by an upward pressure toward it of the envelop or the like. The lower end 14 of the V-spring 7 is pivotally connected to the ,lever 2 by a link 15, so that raising the lever 2 thereby compresses the spring 7. The pivoted end of the lever 2 is disk-shaped and is provided with two notches 8 and 9, into which a pawl-10 with fulcrum 16 on the plate 1, having a tooth 11, is adapted to engage under the influence of a V-spring 12, secured to the plate 1. A sheath 17, hereinafter more particularly described, has an extension 18 at its lower end pivotally connected to the lever 2 near its disk end. The upper end of the sheath 17 is provided with a roller 19, situated vertically above the pivotal connection of the extension-piece 18. The roller 19 is sufficiently wide to keep the walls of the sheath a distance apart a little greater than the thickness of the coin 2O desired to operate the mechanism. The sheath 17 is open at its upper end 21 to admit of its walls moving one on each side of a finger 22, secured to the plate 1. This finger 22 has a curved portion 24, terminating in two horns 26 and 28, adapted to hold a coin 20, the curve between the horns coinciding with the curve of the ITO coin. Integral with the finger 22 is an extension-piece 23, forming a guide for a coin inserted. in the slot 25 in its descent toward the curved portion 24. This extension-piece 23 may be dispensed with or attached to the edge 27 of the slot.

Pivoted on a fulcrum 29 on the plate 1 is a lever 30 with head 31, adapted to be pushed by the hand, and arms 32 33, pivotally secured on each side of the roller 19. In Fig. 2 one arm 33 is shown hanging down for clearness. Lever 30 has also a bent leg 34, adapted to engage the end. 35 of the pawl 10 when the head 31 is pushed back. The lever 30 is brought back to its normal position by means of a coiled. spring 36 round a curved arm 37, secured to the back of the lever 30. The coiled spring 36 lies between the back of lever 30 and an eye 38 on the plate 1, through which eye the curved arm 37 slides. A cover 39 is secured to the plate 1, having in it the coin-slot 25 for insertion of a coin and a slot 40, in which the lever 30 may move back ward and forward. A covering-strip 41 is secured to the lever 30 and is adapted to keep the slot covered at any position therein of the lever 30.

The walls of the sheath 17, Figs. 1 and 3,

. form the upper extension of a chute 43, which is adapted to lead the coin into the bag 44. This bag is closed by a plate 45, provided with a spring-actuated door 46 and lugs 47 48, Fig. 1, adapted to slide into position along guides 49 and 50 on a plate 51, secured to the frame 1. locked by a spring-lock 52, which is unlocked by means of a key 53 on the plate 51, adapted to enter a keyhole in the plate 45 of the bag when the bag is thrust home. There is an opening 54 in the plate 51 to allow the door 46 to move when open underneath the outer edge 55 of the plate 51, so that when the bag is withdrawn the door 46 is forced downward and locked by being drawn under the piece 55.

Provided beneath the slot 25 a cuttingblade 71 is pivoted to the cap 39 and is provided with a short arm 72, which is pivotally connected to the lever 30 by a lever 73, so that the pushing back of the lever 30 causes the crescent-shaped blade 71 to pass rapidly across the slot 25, almost entirely closing same and so as to prevent the insertion of a. smaller com and also to cut any means used;

for suspending a smaller coin.

The inking mechanism consists of a roller- The door 46 when closed is held out of the way of the stamp 4 when in the half-cock position. The stamp moves the roller down over its face, which isinked thereby both in ascending and descending.

A hood 66 is mounted on the frame to cover the stamp and inking mechanism.

'There is a plate 64 fitted to the base of the hood 66, so as to afford an even striking-sur face for the stamp. The base of the hood is provided with a curved lip 65 to enable letters and other documents to be easily inserted in the receptacle 6.

An apparatus 68 to register the number of stamps given may be attached, operated through levers 69 70, Fig. 1, by the upward motion of the lever 2.

An envelop or document is inserted in the receptacle 6. and by its own weight descends into the sheath 17 and rests on the curved portion 24 of the finger 22. The head 31 is then pushed backward, whereupon the arms 32 33 pull the roller 19 to ride over the coin 20, thereby raising the lever 2, and consequently the stamp 4, by means of the extension 18 compressing the spring 7. The movement is so adjusted that when the lever 2 is raised so as to permit of the tooth 11 entering the notch 9, so as to hold the lever in that position, the roller 19 is at the highest point of the coin 20 and vertically above the horn 26 of the finger 22. A continuation of the push brings the roller 19 past the vertical line through the horn 26, whereupon the coin 20 is discharged, passing down the sheath 17 and chute 43 into the bag 44. Still continuing the push, the bent leg 34 engages the end 35 of the pawl 10, thus withdrawing the tooth 11 from the notch 9, whereupon the lever 2 with stamp 4 under the influence of spring 7 actuating link 15 descends rapidly and impresses the stamp on the document in the receptacle 6. The lever 2 immediately rises under the influence of the spring 7, so as to permit the tooth 11 to enter the notch 8 and hold the le ver in its half-cock position. When the handle 31 is released, the spring 36 forces the lever 30 to its original position, and the machine is ready for the insertion of another coin.

As the lever 2 rises, as described, the inking mechanism is operated as follows: The spring 60 being in tension pulls the arm 57 and raises the roller-pad 56 along the curved raised piece 59, wiping the face of the stamp 4. When the lever 2 descends, this operation is reversed.

Having now described my invention, what I- claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination with the delivery mechanism and means for operating the same, of a movable sheath pivotally connected to said delivery mechanism and adapted to receive the A coin is placed in the slot 25 coin, a roller carried by said sheath and engaging said coin, a fixed support for said coin, and means for causing said roller to ride over said coin, thereby raising said sheath and moving said delivery mechanism into operative position, substantially as described.

2. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination With the delivery mechanism and the operating-lever, of a movable sheath pivotally connected to said delivery mechanism and adapted to receive the coin, a coinsupport, a roller carried by said sheath and adapted to engage said coin opposite said coin-support and a pivoted link connecting said roller to said operating-lever, substantially as described.

3. A coin-controlled mechanism comprising a pivoted lever, a stamp at one end thereof, a spring for controlling said lever, a movable coin-sheath pivotally secured to said lever, a roller. carried by said sheath and adapted to engage the coin, a fixed support for said coin opposite said roller, means for causing said roller to ride over said coin so as to raise the sheath and thereby raising said lever and applying tension to the spring, means for releasing said lever to permit the spring to actuate the same and an operating-lever controlling both of said means.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my 30 hand in presence oftwo Witnesses.

ROBERT WALES.

Witnesses:

A. J. PARK, J. R. PARK. 

